Jury finds Coast Guardsman not guilty on 4 charges

Oct. 3, 2013 - 07:39PM
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KENAI, ALASKA — A jury has found a Coast Guard petty officer not guilty of two counts each of sexual abuse of a child and assault.

The jury could not reach a verdict on three other counts against 32-year-old John. R. Blackman Jr. of Soldotna. He was accused of assaulting his then live-in girlfriend’s son.

The Peninsula Clarion reported Thursday the state has not decided if it will refile the three other charges, two counts of sexual abuse and an assault charge. A pre-trial conference has been scheduled Oct. 24.

Soldotna police investigated allegations of abuse after receiving a March 4, 2012, call from the child’s mother. Court records indicate bruising on the boy’s neck, arms, back, legs and genitals. The defense claims the mother coached the child in fabricating the charges.